Friday, January 17: Lowell

Lowell is a city that thrives on re-invention. And it's happening again, with dorms and research centers sprouting at UMass Lowell, entrepreneurs retrofitting old textile mills, and new affordable housing bringing price conscious young people into the city. Anthony Everett reports on a city on the move.

Founded by a doctor, Xenith is a Lowell based designer and manufacturer of cutting edge football helmets. Built to better absorb the impact of concussion inducing football hits, Xenith helmets have a moveable inner lining and rubber shocker absorbers the company believes reduce football head injuries and brain trauma.

The National Historic Park in Lowell brings to life Lowell's role ushering in the American Industrial Revolution. There's a lot to do and see here for visitors of all ages. Beyond the traditional exhibits, there's a working textile factory, and seasonally there are boats rides in Lowell's canals and old fashioned trolleys that take visitors around to the many sites.

A Lowell hot spot for coffee and other baked goods, Brew'd Awakenings Coffeehaus is also a hub for folk music performances and poetry readings.

One of the many ethnic restaurants in Lowell, La Superette features the food of West Africa

Bollywood Fashions sells beautiful, colorful one of a kind clothing and jewelry imported from India. Customers come from all over New England to shop here.

One of the fastest growing campuses in New England, UMass Lowell has turned the city into a college town. Recently named one of the best public universities in America for a student's investment, UMass Lowell is a college on the rise. From top tier research facilities, to a highly rated engineering program, to a Division 1 hockey program, there's a lot to like about UMass Lowell.

The Food Channel has discovered the aromatic Cambodian cuisine at Simple Khmer, and you should as well. Steaming vats of noodle soup, aromatic fish served in bowls made of banana leaves, wok seared beef infused with ginger and basil, this is as authentic as it gets. And it's why the Food Channel first put this Cambodian hot spot on the food map.

Founded by refugees of the Cambodian holocaust, the Angkor Dance Troupe is keeping alive the movement and story-telling native to the country they left behind. Today it’s the next generation, the American born Cambodian sons and daughters who are performing. And it's beautiful and mesmerizing to watch.

A day after Trevor Noah was declared the new host of "The Daily Show," complete with the blessing of the exiting Jon Stewart, graphic tweets targeting women, Jews and victims of the Ebola virus are causing a social media backlash.